Gauteng MEC for Local Government and Housing Humphrey Mmemezi splashed out almost R60 000 at upmarket shops in India using a government credit card to buy suits, “party wear” and shoes.
The India trip was in September last year. Mmemezi and some of his staff were accompanying the Gauteng legislature’s portfolio committee on local government and housing on a fact-finding mission.
On September 25, Mmemezi walked into the Pramanik Retail shop in Mumbai and bought suits to attend formal government and business functions as well as party clothes – marked as “party wear” in the shop, according to receipts that The Star has seen.
A Pramanik receipt indicates that three “formal wear”, three “casual wear” and eight “party wear” garments were bought on the credit card.
Mmemezi spent more than R2 000 each on two items of “party wear”. He paid R2 095 for one of his suits.
The cheapest clothes he bought were two “casual wear” items costing R695 each.
The entire R22 839 bill for garments bought in the shop on the trip was settled using his government-issued credit card, which has a monthly credit limit of R50 000.
While Mmemezi was still in India, the provincial government transferred R16 807.22 into the credit card to control the account on September 29. Nine days earlier, Mmemezi deposited R8 510 cash into
the credit card.
After the September 29 payment, Mmemezi visited Pramanik again on September 30 and bought suits and more “party wear” for R31 000.
He also made two other payments of R4 900 for Nike Colaba and R4 500 for Shubham Collection Colaba wear in two other shops.
Mmemezi exceeded his R50 000 credit limit by more than R9 000 after these purchases.
According to receipts, Mmemezi’s apparent spending spree began before he left on the India trip. He used the credit card to pay R2 572.10 for malaria treatment for himself and his secretary Nonkululeko Zondi at a Netcare Travel Clinic in Sandton. Zondi accompanied Mmemezi to India.
Other spending included:
* R400 for food at the Beach Hotel in Durban on August 31;
* R327.46 at the Bonanza Spar in Krugersdorp;
* R12 765 to SAA and R120 for travel insurance to London;
* R670 at the Georgia Spur in Shelly Beach, on the South Coast, on September 18; and
* On September 19 he rented a car in Cape Town and paid R1 944.
Mmemezi’s spending continued this year, with receipts indicating that the MEC bought grocery items from Woolworths, ladies’ ribs from Steers, and paid for buffet meals at the Silverstar Casino to the tune of R1 572 for a group of 10 adults and four children.
He also made purchases at the Ocean Basket in Rosebank and spent more than R9 000 in several purchases at The Shop Around the Corner in the Joburg CBD.
Adding up the receipts since his appointment as MEC, Mmemezi has spent more than R20 000 on fast food around the country.
In March, DA spokesman on local government and housing Fred Nel posed questions on Mmemezi’s use of his credit card on overseas trips, which are yet to be answered.
Nel asked: “How much was spent in total on overseas trip in 2011 using his credit card? In each case, what was the justification of this purchases?”
Responding to questions, Gauteng Local Government and Housing head of department Mongezi Mnyani said Mmemezi was provided the credit card so that he would not be inconvenienced when doing his job.
What he likes to buy
Some of the other payments made on the government credit card by MEC Humphrey Mmemezi.
2010:
* November – R9 777 at Woolworths in Harrison Street, Joburg CBD, on dried fruit, tikka masala, Greek low-oil dressing, and strawberries, among other items.
* December – R142.73 at a Shoprite in Flagstaff, Eastern Cape; R257.53 at Shoprite in Flagstaff; and R590 at another Shoprite in Kokstad.
2011
* April – R3 419.65 at President Hyperama in Krugersdorp on, among other things, Iwisa Maize Meal, super plastic Iwisa Samp 5kg, President Hyper white sugar, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and All Bran Flakes, Koo vegetable beans, six loaves of Albany brown bread, 10kg Tastic Rice and 10kg Surprise Rice. He also bought lamb for more than R600.
* May 20 – three MTN airtime vouchers for R30 each and two R29 Vodacom vouchers.
* Clorets, tomato sauce anda number of energy drinks – totalling R856.80 – at Shell Ultra City in Denver, Joburg.
2012
* January – R619 at Mugg & Bean in Nelspruit; R400 to Wimpy Sage in Florida Glen; and R400 to Missouri Spur in Krugersdorp.
The Star